Rainbow Nursery is dedicated to the support, development and promotion of high-quality care and education for the benefit of our children, families and community. We are committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

The policy makes it clear that all staff, students and volunteers have a responsibility to safeguard children and young people and to protect them from harm. It aims to raise awareness of how to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and provides procedures should a child protection issue arise.

This policy applies to all children up to the age of 18 years whether living with their families, in state care, or living independently (Working together to safeguard children).

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, in relation to this policy, is defined as:

·         Protecting children from maltreatment

·         Preventing the impairment of children’s health or development

·         Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

·         Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Working together to safeguard children

Child protection is an integral part of safeguarding children and promoting their overall welfare. In this policy, child protection shall mean:

·         The activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are at risk of suffering, significant harm.

To safeguard children and promote their welfare we will:

·         Develop a safe culture where staff are confident to raise concerns about professional conduct

·         Ensure all staff are able to identify the signs and indicators of abuse, including the softer signs of abuse, and know what action to take

·         Share information with other agencies as appropriate.

We promote:

·         Always listening to children

·         Positive images of children

·         Children developing independence and autonomy as appropriate for their age and stage of development

·         Safe and secure environments for children

·         Tolerance and acceptance of different beliefs, cultures and communities

·         British values

·         Providing intervention and help for children and families in need.